Combination chair and support for sousaphones



Nov. 20, 1951 H. J. WENGER 2,575,540

COMBINATION CHAIR AND SUPPORTFOR SOUSAPHONES Filed July 12, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. HARRY J WENGER ATTORNEYS Nov. 20, 1951 H. J. WENGER COMBINATION CHAIR AND SUPPORT FOR SOUSAPHONES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 12, 1948 Nov. 20, 1951 J, w R 2,575,540

COMBINATION CHAIR AND SUPPORT FOR SOUSAPHONES Filed July 12, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR. HA RR) J WENGER ATTORNEYS Nov. 20,1951 H. J. WENGER 2,575,540

COMBINATION CHAIR AND SUPPORT FOR SOUSAPHONES Filed July 12, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1N VEN TOR. HARR Y .7. WENGER memw 14-:- TORNE vs Patented Nov. 20, 1951 UNITED COMBINATION CHAIR AND SUPPORT FOR SOUSAPHONES Harry J. Wenger, Owatonna, Minn.

Application July 12, 1948, Serial No. 38,208

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a new and novel combination seat and support or holder for musical instruments, and more particularly to large brass instruments, such as sousaphones.

A sousaphone, because of its size and the manner in which it is supported on the player's body, makes it necessary that the player be provided with considerable space or room in a band in order that he may freely manipulate the instrument. These instruments are very common in all brass bands and particularly in military, high school, and college bands. High school and college bands usually devote considerable time to rehearsals, and often in rehearsal rooms which may not be sufficiently large to avoid some crowding of the band members, whereby the members may sometimes be seated too close together to permit adequate freedom of movement of the individual players, particularly the sousaphone players, because of the size of their ill-'- struments.

This condition may be aggravated if the student sousaphone players do not sit squarely in their seats or are inclined to cant their instruments to one side or another. Under such crowded conditions the sousaphone section of a band may present a problem, it being understood that the instrument is usually always so positioned that its bell faces directly forwardly.

The present invention is a result of considerable experimental work in an attempt to provide a combination chair and support or holder for a sousaphone, and an important object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus which is so constructed that the actual space occupied by the player when seated in a band is reduced to a minimum and, in addition, the player is provided a comfortable seat and a substantial support for his instrument, said support carrying the entire weight of the instrument and also supporting it in proper position upon the player and with respect to the audience, the support also permitting the player to freely move his body within certain limits without shifting the position of the instrument.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination chair and sousaphone support comprising a seat for the player and a plurality of vertically adjustable supports secured to and extending upwardly from the seat portion of the: apparatus and having means at their upper ends for engaging and supporting the instrument in the position in which it is to be held when in use, and whereby the instrument will be properly suported in playing position atall times, regardless of the player shifting his body more or less within the usual coils of the instrument tubing.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of the class described comprising a seat for the player and a plurality of independently adjustable instrument-supporting members, cooperating to support the instrument in substantially the same relative position with respect to the players body, as when the instrument is carried directly upon the players body when the player is standing or marching in*a band, and whereby it is not necessary to relatively adjust the bell upon the instrument body when switching from concert playing to marching in a band, or vice versa, as the bell will always be facing in the correct forward direction.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of the class described comprising a supporting structure having a plurality of upright tubular posts, and members being telescopically received in said. upright posts and adapted for independent vertical adjustment therein, saidmembers having means at their upper ends for engaging portions of the sousaphone and cooperating to support the instrument in playing position relative to the players body.

A further object is to provide a combination chair and instrument support comprising a seat portion and a plurality of vertically adjustable members having means at their upper ends cooperating to provide an adjustable support or holder for a large musical instrument, and whereby the mouthpiece and finger valves will be properly positioned with respect to a player seated upon the chair, the player also being assured that the instrument will correctly face the audience before which the player may be performing.

A further and more specific object is to provide a combination chair and sous gphone support or holder comprising a seatportion secured to and carried by a plurality of tubular upright supporting members or posts, and members being telescopically mounted in certain of said upright posts and extending upwardly therefrom and having means for adjustably securing them. in fixed position'in said posts, said members be ing provided at their upper ends with means for engaging portions of a musical instrument, such as a sousaphone, whereby the instrument may be supported in proper position relative to 'a player seated upon the seat portion of the apparatus, and whereby the players body is freed of the Weight of the instrument, and also whereby Y 3 the mouth piece and the usual finger-actuated valves of the instrument are correctly located with respect to the player.

Other objects of the invention reside in the arrangement and relation between the various vertically adjustable supporting members of the apparatus whereby they may be independently adjusted to properly position the instrument with respect to a player seated on the apparatus, and whereby the Weight of the instrument may be balanced on the chair; in the provision of such a device which may readily be adjusted to support a conventional sousaphone or other instrument for players of different sizes, and whereby when the player is seated upon the apparatus in playing position, the weight of the instrument is carried by the apparatus whereby the player may, when necessary, arise to a standing position without requiring the manipulation of separate securing elements, said adjustable supporting members being positioned to receive the instrument when the player again resumes a sitting position; in the provision of a combination chair and sousaphone support which is so constructed as to require a minimum of floor space, whereby the invention is particularly useful for supporting instruments of this type in crowded practice rooms in high schools and colleges where several such instruments are frequently used in the bands; in the provision of a substantial support for a musical instrument comprising a plurality of supporting members having means for quickly securing them in adjusted position independently of one another to thereby support the instrument at the proper angle and elevation for the player and audience, and whereby the player may leave .his chair or seat with the assurance that when he returns to resume playing, the instrument will be in proper position; in the provision of such an apparatus having means whereby it may be quickly adapted for supporting musical instru- -ments of different sizes; and in the provision of an apparatus of the class described which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture in quantity production.

These and other objects of the invention and :the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved combination chair and instrument support showing the telescopically mounted members for supporting the instrument in adjusted position upon the apparatus;

Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus; Figure 3 is a sectional view substantially on the line3-3 of Figure 2, showing the preferred bottom construction of the apparatus; Figure 4 is a detail sectional view on the line 4--4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view substantially on the line 55 of Figure 6 with some of the parts shown in elevation.

Figure 6 is a sectional plan view on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view showing the 4 preferred construction of one of the instrument engaging members;

Figure 8 is a perspective View of the apparatus showing a sousaphone supported in playing position thereon;

Figure 9 is a view showing a player seated upon the apparatus with the mouth piece and the usual finger valves in proper position with respect to the player;

Figure 10 is a view showing a chair of slightly different construction which may be collapsed to facilitate transportation;

Figure 11 is a top view of Figure 1;

Figure 12 is a view showing the various movable parts of the chair swung into collapsed or folded positions;

Figure 13 is a view showing the collapsed chair placed on its side, as when resting on a floor; and

Figure 14 is a fragmentary view showing the tiltability of the chair seat.

The novel combination chair and instrument support herein disclosed is shown comprising a suitable supporting structure including a seat portion 2 secured to an angle iron frame 3 which preferably is square in configuration, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The frame 3 is suitably secured to a plurality of upright posts 4, 5, 8 and 1, the posts 4 and 5 being made integral with a lower horizontal member 8, and the upright members 6 and 1 being made integral with a horizontal member 9. The above parts are so constructed for the sake of economy, it being understood that said upright posts may be made independently of the lower horizontal members 8 and 9, if so desired, without departing from the scope of the invention.

The upright posts 4, 5, 6 and l engage the cornersof the angle iron frame 3 and are suitably welded thereto whereby the angle iron frame 3 and said upright posts or legs cooperate to provide a very rugged and substantial supporting structure, as will be understood.

Suitable tie members H and I2 are secured respectively to the lower portions of the members 8 and 9 at the front and rear of the apparatus.

The end portions ll! of the tie members II and F2 are preferably shaped or bent as best shown in Figure l, to facilitate welding the tie members to the horizontal'members 8 and 9. The offset portions It have their terminals bent outwardly, as shown at IS in Figure 1, to provide feet adapted to engage the floor jointly with the bottoms of the horizontal members 8 and 9, and whereby the apparatus may be firmly supported upon a floor without danger of rocking thereon, provided, of course, that the floor or surface upon which it is supported is level and smooth.

To facilitate explanation, the portion Id of the apparatus will hereinafter be referred to as the front, and the opposite side l5, as the rear of the apparatus.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the means provided in combination with the seat portion 2 for supporting a musical instrument, such as a sousaphone, in position on the chair whereby the entire weight of the instrument will be carried thereby independently of the players body, and also whereby the mouth piece and finger valves of the instrument will be properly positioned for the player.

To thus support an instrument, the posts 4, 5 and 1 are extended upwardly above the seat portion 2, and each is provided at its upper end with a clamping device, generally designated by the numeral l6. These devices are of well known construction and therefore need not be described in detail. Suffice it to say that each comprises a flexible band adapted to encircle the upper end of its respective post, and each band has an adjusting element I? which may be actuated to contract the upper ends of their respective posts 4, 5 and i, as will be understood. The posts 4, 5 and I are tubular in cross-section, and have their upper ends slit, as shown at it in Figure 5, whereby the walls thereof may readily be contracted by manipulation of the clamping devices In order that the posts, 4, 5 and 7 may be extended upwardly above the seat portion 2, the

corners of the rear portion of the seat are cut away, as clearly illustrated in Figure 3, whereas the corner of the seat above the leg 6 is shown projectingoutwardly over the top of said leg, as shown inFigures 1 and 8.

To support an instrument in playing position upon the apparatus, a member or rod i9 is telescopically mounted in the rear post 4 and is adapted for vertical adjustment therein, as indicated by the full and dotted lines in Figure l. The member it may be secured in adjusted position, in the post 4 by the clamping device l6 provided thereon. A hook-like element 2| has one end secured to the member i9 and is positioned to engage a portion of the instrument, as shown in Figures 8 and 9. A similar member or rod 22 is telescopically received in the front post 5 and, like the member 59, is vertically adjustable thereinand may be secured in adjusted position by its clamping device it. A U-shaped element 23 is secured to the upper end of the rod 22 adapted to engage a portion of the instrument in a manner similar to the element 2|.

The elements and 23 are shaped to substantially fit the curvature of the lower portion of the instrument tubing and cooperate to carry the weight of the instrument, as will be understood.

Adjustably mounted in the rear leg or post 1 is an, upright member or rod 24 adapted to be secured in fixed position by its clamping device I6. A cross arm or element 25 is fixed to the upper end of the rod 24 and is adapted to be engaged by the intermediate portion of the instrument, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, and thus coapparatus and at, the correct angle for the player.

It will also be noted that the mouth piece and finger valves. will be correctly, locatedv with respect to the players mouth and fingers.

Because of the center of gravity of the instrument being supported directly over the center of the seat portion 2, the combined chair and instrument, including the player, will take up a minimum of floor space, which is of utmost importance in the average practice or rehearsal rooms where the players are often very crowded because; of lack of adequate space for a. band having a large membership.

With the instrument supported, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the operator may at any time leave his chair and instrument with the assurance that the bell of the instrument will be facing in the proper direction when he again returns to his position on the chair. The position of the body of the instrument upon the support corresponds substantially to the position of the body of the instrument when supported directly upon. the players body, as when marching in a band. This is a highly desirable feature because it makes it unnecessary to readjust the bell of the instrument upon the body thereof each time the player switches from concert or stage playin to marching in a band, or vice versa. Most sousaphones are so constructed that the bell of the instrument may be rotatably adjusted thereon whereby the bell may always be directed in the proper forward direction, regardless of the position of the body of the instrument upon the players body. Conventional sousaphone supports now in common use, do not support the instrument in the same relative position in which it is supported upon the players body when marching in a band, and it is therefore usually necessary when utilizing such supports to relatively adjust the bell of the instrument upon the body thereof, each time the player switches from concert playing to marching in a band, or vice versa, in order that the bell may be correctly positioned with respect to the audience or line of march.

The entire apparatus with the exception of the seat portion may be constructed of cylindrical stock or tubing which readily lends itself to forming whereby with the proper dies and fixtures, the entire apparatus may be manufactured in quantity production at extremely low cost.

While the apparatus herein disclosed is shown as being designed more particularly for supporting a conventional sousaphone, it is to be understood that if desired, it may be used for supporting other instruments capable of being supported thereon.

In Figures 10 to 14, inclusive, there is illustrated a combination chair and support which differs from the one shown in the previous figures in that it may readily be collapsed or folded into a compact unit to facilitate handling when transporting the apparatus from one place to another, as when used by a member of a traveling or touring band, of which there are now many.

The collapsible chair here shown comprises a hub-like portion 26 having a plurality of vertically disposed apertures 21 therein adapted to receive and support a plurality of supporting legs, generally designated by the numeral 28. Each leg, it will be noted, has a shank portion 29 adapted to be received in one of the apertures 21, and cotter pins 3| may be utilized to secure the legs against accidental detachment from the hub. portion 26. By thus mounting the legs in the hub portion 26, they may be folded into parallel relation, as illustrated in Figures 12 and 13, when it is desired to collapse the chair to facilitate transportation. Suitable means, not shown, may be provided for locking the legs 3 in their operative position, as shown in Figures 10 and 11.

Relatively smaller apertures 32 are shown provided in the hub portion 26 between the apertures 21. Instrument supporting members 33, 34 and 35 are shown provided with elongated 'members 33, 34 and 35. be quickly collapsed or folded into the position Tshanks 36, 37 and 38, respectively, adapted to be received in the apertures 32, as clearly illustrated in Figure 10. Thumb screws 39 may be provided in the hub portion 26 for securing the members '32, 34 and 35 against relative rotation in the hub 26, and also to secure said members in adjusted position. The instrument engaging members are shown provided with pad-like elements 4|, 42 and 43, respectively, adapted to engage portions of the instrument in a manner similar 'to the structure illustrated in Figures 8 and 9.

shaft or rod 41 has its upper end secured in the fitting 45 and is received in threaded engage- -ment with the central bore provided in the hub portion 26. By thus'mounting the seat 44 in the hub 26, the seat may be vertically adjusted with respect to the floor in a manner similar to the seat portion of a conventional piano stool, thereby making it possible to quickly adapt the chair to individuals of difierent sizes, particularly heights.

The form of chair shown in Figures 10 and 14, inclusive, may be quickly adjusted to almost any size individual in such a manner that the instrument will be correctly supported upon the The entire chair may shown in Figure 13, by simply swinging the members 33, 34 and 35 into the positions shown in Figures 12 and 13, and then folding the legs into similar positions and tilting the seat to the position shown in Figure l2, whereby the entire parent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments herein described may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described; hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiments are illustrative only, and that my invenr tion is not limited thereto.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a combination chair and support for a musical instrument such as a sousaphone, a supporting structure comprising a plurality of upright tubular posts forming the front and rear legs of the chair, one of said front legs having a member vertically slidable therein and provided at its upper end with a cradle-llke element adapted to engage a portion of the instrument, the rear leg or post on the same side of the chair having a similar member mounted for vertical adjustment therein and provided at its upper end with an arcuately formed supporting element adapted to engage a portion of the instrument,

and a member mounted for vertical adjustment at the opposite side of the seat portion of the chair and having a cross arm at it upper end disposed at an elevation above the instrument engaging elements of said front and rear legs for engaging an intermediate portion of an instrument, and cooperating with said elements to support the instrument in correct playing position upon the chair.

2. In a combination chair and sousaphone support, a supporting structure comprising a seat portion, a plurality of upright guides secured to said seat portion, rods vertically adjustable in said guides, cradle-like element secured to the upper ends of two of said rods and a cross arm secured to another of said rods and cooperating with said cradle-like elements to engage and support an instrument in correct playing position relative to said seat portion, said rods being independently adjustable whereby the position of an instrument supported on said elements may be varied with respect to the seat portion.

3. In a support for a musical instrument such as a sousaphone, a supporting structure comprising a plurality of upright vertically adjustable members, means providing a seat portion for a player of the instrument, cradle-like elements secured to the upper ends of certain of said members for loosely receiving the lower portion of a musical instrument to be positioned on said support, and a horizontally disposed element secured to another of said members for engaging an upper portion of the instrument and cooperating with said cradle-like elements to support the instrument in correct playing position independently of a player seated on said seat portion.

4. In a combination chair and sousaphone support, a supporting structure comprising a seat portion, a vertical guide secured to a front corner of said seat portion, a rod mounted for relative vertical adjustment in said guide and having an instrument engaging element secured to its upper end, similar guides at the rear corners of the seat portion, rods adjustably mounted in said rear guides and having instrument engaging elements at their upper ends adapted to cooperate with said first element to loosely support the instrument in correct playing position upon the chair, the vertical adjustment of said rods providing means whereby the apparatus may be quickly adjusted for players of different sizes, when necessary.

HARRY J. WENGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 284,024 Kelly Aug. 28, 1883 525,766 Kirby Sept. 11, 1894 774,487 Marten Nov. 8, 1904 1,363,057 Schechter' Dec. 21, 1920 1,653,772 Knoche Dec. 27, 1927 1,772,980 Bennett Aug. 12, 1930 1,793,521 Sommers Feb. 24, 1931 2,153,821 Walberg Apr. 11, 1939 2,433,969 Wood Jan. 6, 1948 

